For New Writers: Take Time to Grow

by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank

Part One in Seasons of Stewardship by Audrey Frank

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

1 Samuel 3:7

Samuel was a steward of words. But he did not begin that way. Samuel started as we all do. First, he was a child, and children need time to grow. 

Samuel grew up in the house of the Lord, the fulfillment of a promise made by his mother Hannah. She had cried to the Lord in her barrenness, and the Lord listened, giving her a gift-son. She named him Samuel, “God has heard.”

Maybe in your life there was someone who cried to the Lord and you are the answer to that prayer. God hears, and He listens. He listens to the cry of the desperate (see Psalm 34). God gives good to those who seek His help.

So Hannah dedicated her good gift to the Lord and entrusted him to a wise mentor. One night Samuel heard a voice calling his name. Three times he arose, but found no one. The old priest instructed him, “The next time, answer, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening’” (see 1 Samuel 3:10).

Samuel did as his teacher suggested, and the one named God Hears heard God for the first time.

Listening is the first stage of growth for those who would steward God’s words. We must allow time for growing. For listening. For resting, waiting for His voice, and making ourselves ready to handle the living and active, sharper-than-any-double-edged-sword, freedom-giving words of the Lord.

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. 

Writing words and speaking words are always best after listening. The season of listening is as critical to the word-harvest as rain and sunshine were to the strawberries spreading their scent across my favorite farm trail these summer days.

During the listening season, we need mentors. Old Eli perceived in Samuel what Samuel was not old enough to yet understand. The Lord was calling Samuel. Samuel listened to his mentor, and answered the Lord as instructed. Thus began Samuel’s next important stage of growing into a steward of God’s words.

Mentors help us grow into our next season of word-bearing. Make sure you don’t grow up too soon. Take time to grow and listen.

Lord, speak; your servant is listening. Amen.

Where are you in your writing journey today? Join me next month for Part Two in this series of Seasons of Stewardship.

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For New Writers: Take Time to Grow, wisdom from author and speaker @AudreyCFrank on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Audrey Frank is an author, speaker, and storyteller. The stories she shares are brave and true. They give voice to those whose words are silenced by shame, the hard things in life that don’t make sense, and the losses that leave us wondering if we will survive. Audrey and her family have spent over twenty years living and working among different cultures and world views, and she has found that God’s story of redemption spans every geography and culture. He is the God of Instead, giving honor instead of shame, gladness instead of mourning, hope instead of despair. Although she has three different degrees in communication and intercultural studies, Audrey’s greatest credential is that she is known and loved by the One who made her.

Audrey is the author of Covered Glory: The Face of Honor and Shame in the Muslim World (Harvest House Publishers), an outpouring of Audrey’s heart to introduce others to the God of Instead. Shame is not unique to the developing world, the plight of the women behind veils, young girls trafficked across borders; shame is lurking in hearts everywhere. Through powerful stories from women around the world, Covered Glory illuminates the power of the Gospel to remove shame, giving honor instead. Available at favorite booksellers: BARNES & NOBLE , BOOKS A MILLION, AMAZON.

Featured Image: Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash